The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-03-25
ETIQUETTE.
bui Nye ON the Modern American Babi,
OF Anonymous Introductions.

l ETIQUETTE.
Bill Nye on the Modern American Bab,
OF Anonymous Introductions.
: There seems to be a growing ten depc,
on the part OF the average American to-
ward what may be pardoned for call
ing the anonymous or tncog, introduc
tion. Ihis introduction generally
starts OIL IN Jorhssifno strain that, Il
Kept up throughout the recital, would
herald the names of both parties to the
uttermost parts of the earth Then the
piano and d'mtnuendo strain comes in.
mat is the reason we are acquainted
with SO many people whose names we
90 not know. A man steps up to YOU
In crowd somewhere in one of those
quiet little town meetings where it is q
mark OF great conversational genius to
talk steadily onward without using the
mind, and says: Pardon me, l want
to make you two people acquainted.
lou ought to know each other. You
are both friends of mine. Mr.
Mr.. -. There. now YOU are &C
quaintedr'
why man should write a long letter
and write it plainly, signing it at the
END with a name that would have both
cred Daniel to decipher, is more than I
can understand. 1t is the same STYLE
OF popularity rs the anonymous intro
auction exactly. l may be a little care
less about my penmanship while writing
In great hurry, trying to keep up with
my surging thoughts, but most ALWAYS
sign my name so that it can be deci-
phered. l have written letters where the
signature was the only thing that.was
absolutely beyond the possibility of
doubt But if man signs his name so
that you can write to him and ask him
what the balance of his letter was about |
IL Is better than long, beautiful letter .
from an unknown and unknowable per-
son. In the latter case, you are left to
kick the empty air.
Some day when get more time. I am
gong to prepare long treatise upon
etiquette. and deliver it to the Amer-
can people, illustrated by one of those
stereopticons. Etiquette has been n
lifelong study for me. It's THING
that has engrossed my attention from
my earliest boyhood, and it shows itself
at once in my polished manners and
easy-running carriage.
AL table especially our American peo-
Or.
wherever 90, L am struck with our
SAD need OF careful training. As a
country, we need careful instructions in
our manners, more especially at hotels.
Only the other day, at the table d'hote.
heard man ask for half dozen
ouckwh"at cakes, and when they came
% him he moistened the tips of his fin
yers in finger bowl and ran over the
'akes as he would a roll of currency.
or ne was the assistant cashier in q
rational bank. Another man at the
anne table was asked to pass the pepper
,ox and he took it With his thumb on
he bottom and his two first fingers on r
he top. just rs he had been in the habit :
4 moving stack of chips from the ace
the deuce. no doubt, for years.
so we as people crowd our vocations
the front, and are not able to Danish
UT trades and professions, even at :.
lble. We should try to overcome this. a
nd there are many other features of =;
ur national etiquette which we need to n n
hange. NJ
Only last week 1 saw fine looking
Dung man sit at the hotel table comb A
lg his moustache with his fork, and ].
hlle in brown study the fork slipped W
1t OF the moustache and plunged with
sickening jab into his eye. We can
ot be too careful in our intercourse
ith men to avoid all appearance of
Ill.
Etiquette always marks the true gen M
'man and makes him an object of
rlosity, especially at hotel When
u see gentleman with whom you =
Q not acquainted you should look up IN
him with genteel horror and shud- Hl
y two times in rapid succession. This
III convince stranger that you have
en- reared with the greatest care and
at your parents have taken special n
ms not to allow you to associate with
lgar people. ~
started out to say few words about ~
D folly of indistinct introductions and
lppy-jawed signatures, but l have
lndered away, as / am apt to do. ~,